Biotechnology Engineering is an undergraduate degree programme in applied sciences that amalgamates the facts from both Biological sciences and technology. This study utilizes the biological processes which include the study of microorganisms or knowledge of antibiotics and further implement them in various industrial purpose. In simple terms, Biotechnology is a study which involves the use of living organisms. The living organisms are used to make useful chemicals which can be utilized in industries. Biotechnological products are used in areas like agriculture, food sciences and medicine. It deals with the study of various principles related to Tissue culture which is one of the most widely used techniques in any biological or biomedical research lab. It also provides life-saving methods and devices to detect pathogens and control spread of diseases and increase human life longevity. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) which is a popular format of “wet-lab” type analytic biochemistry assay, uses a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect the presence of a substance, usually an antigen (peptides, proteins, antibodies and hormones), in a liquid sample or wet sample. This is the boon of Biotechnology Engineering and it has helped in controlling the spread of diseases and early detection of pathogens.
Biotechnology Engineering: Highlights
Some important points related to Biotechnology Engineering programme are listed below. Candidates can check out these points which are related to various courses in Biotechnology Engineering in the table below which contains the highlights on course level, course duration, entrance exams, average salaries, course fees, top recruiters and top job profiles. Candidates can refer to highlights for a quick reference:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Level | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Doctorate |
| Eligibility | UG: Class 12 along with entrance examinationPG: BTech + GATEDiploma: Class 10 |
| Duration | UG: 4 yearsPG: 2 yearsDiploma: 3 years |
| Course Fee | Up to INR 3 lakh |
| Entrance Exams | JEE Main, MHT CET, AP EAMCET, WBJEE, KEAM |
| Average Salary | Up to INR 7 lakh |
| Top Colleges | IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad |
| Top Recruiters | BARC, IISc, CSIR, Global Pharma MNC, DRDO,Stryker, Philips Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson, Siemens Healthcare |
| Job Positions | Project Assistant, Project Engineer, Lecturer, Service Engineer, Account Executive |
All About Biotechnology Engineering
Biotechnology Engineering is considered as an interdisciplinary field of biotechnology and engineering. It combines the various aspects and learnings of subjects such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering. With the help of this subject, candidates learn how to address to complex processes and solve biotechnological problems by using technology. Graduates who complete this course are called as Biotechnology engineers who are responsible for developing new products such as various forms of drugs and novel therapies which are essential for saving lives.
Why pursue Biotechnology Engineering?
Those who pursue Biotechnology Engineering are introduced to the various methods and techniques for identifying genetic material called as DNA, pathogens causing life-risking diseases and provide novel methods for producing medicines. Apart from introducing candidates to wet lab techniques, they are also introduced to data analysis using proper statistical methods and software which is very important in biotechnology and medical research.
Why pursue Biotechnology Engineering?
A candidate interested in pursuing this course must have completed their 10+2 education with Physics, Chemistry & Biology (PCB) as main subjects. Though there are certain institutes that mandate mathematics as an important subject for admissions, it is not really required in other institutions. With a promising scope and multiple career options, Biotechnology Engineering is a trustworthy option to choose from among the top courses today.
What is the scope of Biotechnology Engineering?
After completing Biotechnology Engineering, candidates can work in the following domains which offer promising career opportunities such as:
- Medical Biotechnology
- Plant Biotechnology
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Applied Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
Biotechnology Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The minimum eligibility criteria required in order to pursue a BTech programme in Biotechnology states that a candidate should have completed their Class 12th education with PCB. While there are engineering institutes that consider Mathematics a compulsory subject in order to offer admissions to candidates, institutes like JNU does not make Mathematics mandatory for seeking admissions into the BTech in Biotechnology programmes. Candidates who have studied Biology in +2 can also apply for admissions.
Top Entrance Tests for Biotechnology Engineering 2023
The route to this course is through an entrance exam. The most common entrance exam that is required for this course is JEE test. Other than JEE, some institutes also conduct their tests and take admission based on scores of the tests. Some of these tests are:
| Exam | Exam Dates | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 1-24 Jan ’24 – 1 Feb ’24JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 2-1 Apr ’24 – 15 Apr ’24 | JEE Main Schedule |
| JEE Advance | Jun ’24 (Tentative) | JEE Advanced Schedule |
| MHTCET | PCM and PCB- May ’24 (Tentative) | MHTCET Schedule |
| CUET | 15 May ’24 – 31 May ’24 | CUET Schedule |
| TS EAMCET | TS EAMCET 2024 exam for AM and Eng stream- May ’24 (Tentative) | TS EAMCET Schedule |
Top Biotechnology Engineering Colleges
Biotechnology Engineering is one of the most popular branches of engineering offered across all top universities. It includes some of the top government and private colleges which are enumerated in the list below. The colleges mentioned in the table are listed alphabetically and not in any order of ranking hierarchy.
Top Government Colleges for Biotechnology Engineering
The top government colleges for Biotechnology Engineering courses include top IITs and NITs which are extremely popular for their BTech and MTech courses. Admissions to BTech courses are done on the basis of scores in JEE Advanced and counselling through JOSAA. The admissions to MTech are done on the basis of GATE scores and a centralised counselling. The government colleges are as follows:
| Institute | Total Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| DTU – Delhi Technological University | 3-6 lakh |
| Jadavpur University | 96 K |
| IIT Delhi | 8 lakh |
| IIT Hyderabad | 24 K- 8 lakh |
| IIT Kharagpur | 20 K- 8 lakh |
| IIT Madras | 10 K- 20 K |
| IIT Roorkee | 8 lakh |
| NIT Rourkela | 1.4 – 5 lakh |
| NIT Surathkal | 1.4 – 2.79 lakh |
| NIT Warangal | 3.04 – 5 lakh |
Top Private Colleges for Biotechnology Engineering
The top private colleges for Biotechnology Engineering consists of Deemed to be universities which have gained popularity over the years due to excellent placement opportunities and industrial tie-ups. These universities conduct their own national level or state level entrance examinations and also offer exciting scholarships to candidates who have scored well in the entrance examination. The colleges offering biotechnology engineering courses are given as follows:
| Institute | Total Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| Amity University, Noida | 12-18 lakh |
| BMS College of Engineering | 16 lakh |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | 6-8 lakh |
| KIIT School of Engineering | 10 lakh |
| LPU – Lovely Professional University | 4-10 lakh |
| Manipal Institute of Technology | 2- 8 lakh |
| SASTRA Deemed to be University | 2-6 lakh |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | 6 lakh |
| Thapar University | 2- 14.58 lakh |
| VIT Vellore | 3- 6 lakh |
Biotechnology Engineering Career, Scope and Top Recruiters
A huge list of Pharmaceutical companies offers job opportunities for Biotechnology engineers. However, there are breweries, health care services, environmental departments also require biomedical engineers. Key responsibilities as a biotechnology engineer are to harness biological systems as a way of producing new products. As a professional, it is required to get into the nitty-gritty of how biological processes occur and also find ways to adapt, alter, change and control their function. Biological technicians also work at Universities or commercial lab assisting in various researches. Biochemists, Biophysicists or Microbiologists are few of the Biotechnology technicians job profiles.
Top Job Profiles for Biotechnology Engineering
The following table enlists the various popular job profiles for Biotechnology Engineering graduates along with their job description and salaries:
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Annual Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Bioprocess Engineer | Biotechnological systems and processes are created and developed by bioprocess engineers. They operate in a range of fields, including environmental management and the pharmaceutical industry. | 6- 9 LPA |
| Genetic Engineer | Chemical and biological concepts are used by biochemical engineers to address issues in the food, energy, and environmental sectors. | 7- 10 LPA |
| Biomedical Engineer | Engineering principles are applied to medicine and biology by biomedical engineers. They focus on initiatives including constructing artificial organs and new medical gadgets. | 6- 9 LPA |
| Biochemical Engineer | Molecular biology methods are used by genetic engineers to alter the genetic structure of organisms. | 8- 10 LPA |
Enlisted below is the list of a few reputed companies that offer job opportunities to Biotechnology engineering professionals.
| Companies | Products and Services | About |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens Healthcare | Products Group: Hearing Instruments, Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical Imaging, Therapy Systems | Siemens Healthcare is a medical technology company which is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany. |
| Johnson & Johnson | Medical Devices Products:Orthopedics, Cardiovascular Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Vascular and Obstructive Disease, Neurovascular Disease, Arrhythmias, Diabetes Care, Self-Measured Blood Glucose Monitors, Insulin Delivery Devices, Diagnostics, | Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational medical device, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturer which was founded in 1886. |
| Dräger | Products: Anaesthesia Workstations, Consumables and Accessories, IT and Software Solutions, Patient Monitoring, Ventilation and Respiratory Monitoring, Warming Therapy and Neonatal Care | Drägerwerk AG is a German company based in Lübeck which is involved in the manufacturing of breathing and protection equipment, gas detection and analysis systems, and noninvasive patient monitoring technologies |
| Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGAA | Products and services: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Acute dialysis, Infusion therapy, Transfusion technology, Liver support therapy | Fresenius Medical Care is a German company specializing in the production of medical supplies, primarily to facilitate or aid renal dialysis. |
| Stryker | Product Categories: Laparoscopic cameras, endoscopy, Neurosurgical, Spine & ENT, OR Equipment and Connectivity, Surgical Navigation Software, OR Equipment and Connectivity | Stryker Corporation is a Fortune 500 medical technologies firm based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Stryker’s products include implants used in joint replacement and trauma surgeries; surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling and emergency medical equipment; neurosurgical, neurovascular and spinal devices; as well as other medical device products used in a variety of medical specialties. |